Westbeth Artists Housing, 1998 - 2024

Sub-Series — Box: 100

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

This subseries consists of Rosenthal and Creston’s lease documents from 1998-2024, memos, meeting minutes, and reports from the Westbeth Artists Residents’ Council, and Westbeth Management, as well as correspondence between Rosenthal and neighbors, and management.

Dates

1998 - 2024

Conditions Governing Access

Files will be reviewed for potential redactions of personal identifying information by archives staff prior to release or access. Email QC.archives@qc.cuny.edu for more information.

Historical note

Westbeth Artists Housing was founded in 1970 to provide affordable housing for artists and their families in New York City. Westbeth occupies the Bell Laboratories Buildings in the West Village, which were the headquarters of the Bell Telephone Laboratories from 1898-1966, before being converted into 383 live-work spaces for artists of all disciplines. Westbeth was added to the National Registrar of Historic Places and the New York State Registrar of Historic Places in 2009. In 2011, It was designated a New York City landmark.

In addition to residential spaces, Westbeth houses commercial, performance and rehearsal spaces, and dedicated art studios. It is also home to major cultural organizations including The Martha Graham Center of Contemporary Dance, the New School for Drama, and the Kitchen.

Barbara Rosenthal, Bill Creston, and their two daughters moved into Westbeth in 2000.

Source: https://westbeth.org//about/history/

Extent

From the Collection: approx. 137.82 Linear Feet (Approximately 137.82 linear feet plus additional textiles and oversized items. 157 archival boxes; 6 artifact boxes; 5 book totes; 6 clothing items on garment rack; 4 oversize folders.)